Switch



H. D. JAMES.

SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED 050.8, 1917.

1 ,389 1 4 1 Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

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HENRY D. .J'AMES, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELEGTRIC 80 MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented'Aug, 30, 1921 Application filed December 8, 1917. Serial No. 206,159.

Be it known that I, HENRY D. JAMns, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switches, of which the following is a specification. r

My invention relates to switches and particularly to electrically operated switches that are provided with means for extinguishing the arcs which are formed between the contact members thereof.

One object of my inventionis to provide a switch of the above-indicated character that shall be provided with means for distributing a portion of the flux of the operating coil thereof in a manner to extinguish any are which is formed between the contact members.

In many electromagnetic switches and relays which are now in service, it is customary to provide a separate blowout coil for each switch or relay which serves to establish a magnetic flux for extinguishing the arcs that may be formed when the contact members of the switch or relay are separated. In some cases, it is inexpedient to provide separate blowout coils by reason of the expense thereof or because of physical limitations. In such cases, however, an inefficient switch or relay is produced, inasmuch as the contact members have to be re newed frequently.

In a switch constructed in accordance with my invention, a portion of the flux which is produced by the operating coil of the switch is caused to flow across the switch contacts in a manner to extinguish any are which may be formed between them. Thus, the switch is provided with the equivalent of a blowout coil which isrelatively inexpensive in construction and adds very little apparatus to the switch structure.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a switch constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view, and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the switch illustrated in Fig. 1. 7

Referring to the accompanying drawing, a switch 1 embodies a yoke 2, a coil 3, an armature structure 4, two are shields 5 and.

6, and two members 7 and 8 of magnetic material.

rial are respectively connected to the cores 9 and 10 by means of the screws 15 and 16 and are provided with lugs 17 and 18 near the lower ends thereof which serve as bearings for the armature structure 1. The lug 18 not only serves as a bearing for the arma ture but also supports an adjusting screw 19 for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter. The upper portions of the members 7 and ,8 are provided with projections 20 and 21 which are disposed parallel to the core members 9 and 10 and which serve for support ing the arc shields 5 and 6. Between the two are shields 5 and 6 and mounted thereon, two stationary contact terminals 22 and 23 are provided which are respectively connected to binding posts 2 1 and 25.

The armature structure 1 embodies a pin 27 which is rotatably mounted on the two lugs 1'7 and 18, a member 28 of nonmagnetic material which is provided with projecting portions 29 that are mounted on the pin 27, and an armature 30 of magnetic material and a contact member 31, which are attached to the member 28 in any suitable manner, as by means of rivets. Moreover, the member 28 is provided with a pro jecting portion 33, that is connected to the adjusting screw 19 by means of a spring 8 1 which serves for maintaining the armature member 4 in a retracted position whenever the coil 3 is deenergized. The armature 80 is disposed across the ends of the core members 9 and 10, and the movable contact member 31 is adapted to respectively engage the contact terminals 22 and 23 when in a retracted and in an operative position. The coil 3 is provided with two terminals 37 which extend through the base plate 13, and the circuits which are closed by the switch embody either of the contact 'movable contact member and the movable member 31 which is grounded on the frame of the switch.

hen the coil 3 is energized and the switch is operated, certain portions of the flux which is established by the coil 3 are carried by the members 7 and 8 across the point of contact between the movable contact member 31 and the stationary contact members 22 and 23 and thus, whenever the is disengaged from one of the stationary contact members, the flux flowing between the portions and 21 01"? the members 7 and 8 will extinguish any arc that may be formed.

Although I have illustrated my switch as provided with a' single energizing coil, it is evident that the same may be provided with a plurality of energizing coils, if so desired, and its contact members and the members of magnetic material which are associated therewith may be disposed in various relations.

hflodifications in the structure and arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch comprising relatively movable contact members, two operatively connected magnetiza-ble members mounted in spaced relation to one another, and a coil disposed on one of said magnetizable members for actuating one of the contact members and for establishing a flux that is carried by the said magnetizable members across the field of movement of the contact members.

2. A switch comprising relatively movable contact members, two plain cylindrical 'mag'netizable members, a member of magnetizable material for operatively connectinp; said cylindrical members, and a coil disposed on one of said cylindrical members for actuating one of the contact members and for directing a magnetic flux between the contact members.

8. A switch comprising relatively movable contact members, two plain cylindrical magnetizable members, a member of magnetizable material for operatively connecting and supporting said cylindrical members, oppositely disposed magnetizable sheet-metal members of substantially L- shape disposed at the ends of said cylindrical members adjacent to said contact members, and a coil on one of said cylindrical members for actuating one 01 the contact members and for directing a magnetic flux between the contact members.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this th day of Nov, 1917.

HENRY D. JAMES. 

